Centrifugal separator



W 1929- w. c. LAUGHL IN 1,710,315

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARA'I'OR Filed Oct. 30, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. (/U-KJQ/QUQW .& 2212', BY

ATTORNEYS.

A ril 23, LAUGHLIN 3 P w z CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed 001;. 50,, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

April 23-, 1929, 1 w. Huang: 1. 1 .315 CENTRIFUGAL sEPARA'rofi mud on. so, 1926 4 Shoots-Shut INVENTOR. M 0 m W A TTORNEYS.

Pa tented Apr. 23, 1929.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAliI C. LAUGHLIN', OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO LAUGHLIN FILTER GORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CENTBIFUGAL snrana'ron.

Application filed October 30, 1926. Serial No. 145,141.

This invention relates to centrifugal machines and more particularly to rotary separators for efficiently separating component parts of complex materials.

Broadly stated, the object of the present 1nvention is to provide a constantly driven rotary separator for acting upon materials continuously.

According to one feature of the invention the material to be acted upon is fed through a hollow shaft into a rotating chamber of conical shape, and by virtue of centrifugal force is emitted from the chamber and then separated. 5

Another feature relates to an improved screw propeller for acting upon the emitted material, whereby to eject fluid in one direction and expel solid material in a difierent direction.

A feature of the screw propeller relates to a flange of improved construction for acting upon the material efiiciently, cheaply and quickly.

Another feature relates to a casing cooperating with the propeller flange to provide for continuous operation of the device, and effectively preventing choking or blocking of the structure.

Still another feature of the inventionis to provide a combination of elements which may be cheaply constructed and may .be readily assembled and dismantled.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1' is a side elevation of a machine embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal section of the machine;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the screw propeller; and

Figure 6 is a detailed view of the driving mechanism of the machine.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and .claims, parts, characteristic features and functions will be identified by specific names for convenience of expression, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts or equivalent construction as the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a base 10 of conventional form, serving as a mounting for the machine. The separator and its associatcd parts are mounted upon the upper face of the base 10 by being bolted thereto. As illustrated in Figure 1, the mechanism comprises generally an inverted hanger 11 secured to the base 10 and supporting a hollow shaft 12, a solid discharge box 13, a liquid discharge box 14, and a power transmitting device 15.

One end of the hollow shaft 12 is provided with an intake 20 with which registers a stationary inlet pipe 21 extending from a suit able container of raw material (not shown) and forming a source of material to be acted upon. The inlet pipe 21 is in communication 7 with a bore 22 of the shaft 12 (see Figure 2). The bore 22 extends partially through the shaft 12 and into communication with aligned transverse apertures such as 23 shown two in number (see Figure 3). As clearly seen in Figure 2, the solid discharge box 13 includes an end plate 24 having an aperture as at 25 sufficiently large to provide ample clearance Withrespect to the shaft 12, and having an opposed end plate 26 apertured as at 27, and an arcuate Wall 28 secured to the end lates 24, 26 along their peripheral edges as by being bolted thereto, thus forming a chamber for the discharge of solid material, as will subsequently appear.

There is mounted upon the shaft 12 in position to discharge into the solid discharge box 13 a rotary screw propeller 30, which may take the form illustrated in Fi ure 5. As so illustrated it includes a rotor o frustoconical shape the enlarged end of which may beformed cylindrically as at 31. The ropeller also includes a hub portion 32 whic is provided with an internal bore of such size as to fit snugly upon the shaft 12. The hub 30 has a keyed connection including keys 33 positioned. in suitable key ways 34 on the shaft 12 by which the propeller 30 is fixedly mounted upon the shaft so'as to rotate therewith. The propeller 30 is positioned on the shaft 12 so that its smaller end projects through the aperture 27 of the solid discharge box end plate 26 and thus into the interior of the solid discharge box 13.

The outer face of the propeller 30 between the small end and the cylindrical portion 31 slopes to form a cone shaped surface 35, and

in combination with the hub 32 and end wall 36 there is inclosed within the propeller an annular'chamber 37 of triangular'section. The hub 32 is apertured as at 38 to form'a passage sufficiently large to register with the transverse apertures 23 of the shaft 12.

The end wall 36 of the screw propeller may be provided with a suitable number of core holes as at 41, as for example three in number, to expedite the casting of this element, such holes permitting the elimination of the sand aft-er casting. The screw propeller also includes two spiral blades or flanges 42, 43 extending spirally around the sloping wall and around the cylindrical portion 31. The sloping wall 35 of the chamber 37 is provided adjacent to the end wall 36 with material discharge apertures 44 shown,

two in number.

For driving the shaft 12 there is provided at the outboard end thereof as shown in Figure 6 a sprocket 50 pinned to the shaft for rotation therewith and operatively connected as by a chain 51 to a motor pinion wheel 52 whichis driven at a relatively constant speed by means of a conventional motor such as an electric motor 53 forming a source of power. The shaft 12 extends through the power transmitting device 15 as also illustrated in Figure 6, and there is keyed thereon a gear element 54 within a. gear casing 55. The gear 54 is in constant mesh with a gear 56 ke ed to a counter shaft 57. The countersha t 57 is ournalled in suitable bearings in the walls of the casing 55 in a Well known manner. A gear 58 relatively smaller in diameter than the gear 56 is keyed to the counter shaft 57 and is in mesh with a gear 59. The gear 59 is keyed on a sleeve 60 loosely mounted on the shaft 12 and arranged for the rate of movement of the shaft 12.

rotation at a speed relatively different from The sleeve 60 is coupled as at 61 to a rotor 62 Which will now be described in detail.

The rotor 62 is mounted on a conventional friction reducing element such as a roller bearing 63 on the shaft 12 and by virtue of being coupled as by the coupling 61 to the sleeve 60 is driven therewith at a speed relatively different from the rate of movement of the shaft. A bearing cover plate 64 is bolted to the rotor 62 for maintaining the roller bearing 63 in the assembled position as illustrated in Figure 2. The rotor 62 is provided on one lateral face with an integral annular flange 65 upon which there is secured an annular baffle plate 66. The baille plate is formed of relatively thin metal and extends in spaced parallel relation with the proximate face of the rotor 62 thus forming one wall of a pocket 67 for the passage of fluids. The pocket 67 is in communication near the periphery of the rotor 62 with raditherewith a unitary rotor structure. The inner surface of the rotor part 70 forms an enclosure for the blades 42, 43 of the inner rotor 30, the blades being snugly fitted there- The blades 42, 43 extend outwardly from the surfaces of the rotor 30 in such a direction as to form with the adjacent inner surface of the outer casing 70 substantially a right angle.

The liquid discharge box 14 includes a hollow casing having an aperture cmrforming to the outline of the tapered casing 7 O, which casing is mounted in fixed position upon the base 10. The liquid box is provided with interiorly disposed deflectors 81, 82 which extend from the end walls of the box inwardly and which are terminated so as to leave a passage 83 for the discharge of fluid into an annular chamber 84 formed by the deflectors 81, 82 and the peripheral wall of the box 14. The annular chamber 84 empties into a liquid discharge pipe 85 through which the liquid separated out from the material being acted upon may be drawn.

The sp iral blade 43 is cutaway at the smallor end of the rotor, as indicated at 86, and the blade 42 is similarly cut away as at 8 to permit the material to come to rest before discharge, thus increasing the effectiveness of the machine as a separator, as will subsequently be set forth. The distance the blades are cut away is determined by the character of material being acted upon.

In operation, the driving motor 53 is started and drives the shaft 12 and the rotor 30 at a predetermined speed. The power source 53 also drives the sleeve 60 at a speed somewhat. less than the speed of the shaft 12, the arrangement of the gears in the transmission 15 being preferably such that the difference in the speeds is relatively small. For example, the shaft 12 and screw propeller 30 may be driven at a speed of 1,000 revolutions per minute and the sleeve 60 at a speed of 906 revolutions per minute. Other speeds may be used or the speeds may be interchanged, however, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The movement of the sleeve 60 is centrifugal force and by virtue of their relatively diliercnt specific gravities. The inner rim of the baffle plate 66 determines the water line, and the fluid passes 01f and around the edge of the battle indicated by the arrow 9b.

The fluid moves into the pocket (57 and through the radial slots ()8 and is thrown outwardly through the annular passage 83 and into the chamber 84. Itthen falls by gravity to the bottom of the chamber 8-): and flows out of the machine through the pipe 85.

The non-fluid part of the material is forced by the screw action of the blades 42, a3 towards the smaller end of the screw propeller 3 The solid material finally escapes from the smaller end of the rotor and drops into the solid discharge box 13 from which it may be collected in any convenient manner.

Thus it will be seen that during the operation of the machinethe fluid level is determined by the inner edge of the baffle plate (30 and the level of the solid material being deternnned by the configuration of the discharge end of the tapered casing spaced apart from the fluid material. The material is propelled from the first named evel to the second named level by the action of a novel propelling device having blades which force the solid material towards the second named level, and thus an eti'cctive separation ell'ect is produced.

It will also be seen that the discharge apertures sit are so positioned with respect to the blades 42, 43 that the material is em tted into the space between the blades at a point from -which the material has just been removed by the action of the adjacent blade.

By virtue of the novel construction of the blades and ofthe enclosing casing, the material is propelled by the blades and is steadily pushed ahead, in such manner as to effect separation of fluids and solids. The spiral is so made thatit is at all points at right angles to the outer cone.

1 have found in practice that a spiral so constructed gives a pushing action to the solids, without draging effect, eliminating wear and decreasing power-also that the spiral has a tendency on most solids, to push a small amount of free liquid ahead of the solid. To provide for this a section is cut out of the blades at the discharge end, which allows the water and solid to come to rest before discharge; this allows the water to pass backment shown and described for the purpose of illustrating at least one of the ways in which it may be employed. The scope of the invention is therefore to be understood as not being limited by the present specific description. I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the claims.

\Vhat is claimed is- 1. 1n centrifugal apparatus, a tapered rotor having a sloping peripheral wall forming an annular material chamber and having discharge passages in the peripheral wall for the emission of material from the chamber by the action of centrifugal force, a plurality of spiral flanges positioned on the exterior of the rotor, and a second rotary casing having its inner wall substantially perpendicular to and snugly fitted over said flanges to oppose the escape of material radially, said flanges having portions cut away at the discharge end of the apparatus.

2. In centrifugal apparatus, th e combina tion. with a hollow drive shaft, a hollow rotary casing of tapered form mounted on the drive shaft, the bore of the drive shaft forming a material discharge passage to the interior of the said casing, a peripheral flange on said casing inclined towards the smaller end of said casing, and a seeond hollow rotary casing enclosim said flange having its inner wall substantia lly perpendicular to said flange, the wall of the first named casing having material outlets discharging into the interior of the second named easing, said flange having a portion thereof cut away near the smaller end of the first named rotary casing.

In centrifugal apparatus, the combination with a hollow drive shaft, a rotor having a sloping peripheral wall mounted on the drive shaft, a spiral flange on said rotor inclined towards the smaller end of said rotor, and a hollow rotor enclosing said flange having its inner wall substantially perpendicular to said flange, said flange having a portion cut away near the smaller end of the rotor.

4. In centrifugal apparatus, a drive shaft having a hollow bore, a casing mounted on the drive shaft and having an interior chamber communicating with the bore of the drive shaft, said casing having a peripheral wall disposed at an angle to the axis of the shaft, said wall having outwardly extending projections formed for engaging-material to be acted upon and having its interior face substantially perpendicular to the material engaging surfaces of said projections, said projections having portions cut away whereby engagement with the material may be discontinned before discharges ofthe material.

5. In a centrifugal apparatus, a casing having an annular material chamber of triangular section, said chamber having spaced discharge passages disposed at the outer periphcry of said chamber for the emission of material from the chamber by the action of centrifugal force, a plurality of blades posi-' tioned on the exterior of the casing and extending outwardly therefrom substantially perpendicularly to the surface from which 7 theyproject, a. second'casinghaving its inner wall substantially perpendicular to and snugly fitted over said blades, and means for rotating said casings at relatively different speeds, for causing movement of the material laterally, a portion of each of said blades be-v ing removed near the discharging end of the caslngs.

6. 1n centrifugal apparatus, the combination with a hollow drive shaft, a conical screw propeller mounted thereon and having ripheral spiral blades inclined towards the smaller end of said propeller, and a hollow diflering rates of speeds, said blades having portions cut away therefrom near the smaller end ofthe propeller.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 28th day of October, A. D. 1926.

WILLIAM C. LAUGHLIN. 

